SPORTS

Former Jazz Guard Deron Williams and Coach Sloan get closure

Sep 18, 2018, 4:01 PM

Utah Jazz guard Deron williams confers with Jerry Sloan during the game with the San Antonio Spur  ...

Utah Jazz guard Deron williams confers with Jerry Sloan during the game with the San Antonio Spur in San Antonio, Texas for the Western Conference Finals game 2 May 22, 2007. Jeffrey D. Allred/photo

SALT LAKE CITY — Former Utah Jazz Guard Deron Williams and Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan have finally put their troubled past behind them.

In a feature written by UtahJazz.com writer Aaron Falk detailing important events that led up to the tattered relationship between Sloan and Williams, Falk explains that there are potentially two calls that ultimately created the rift.

“The first was a ‘Twenty-Two,’ a play designed to feed the center on the left block. Back in February of 2011, the brash, young All-Star point guard says he knew his big man preferred the other side of the floor,” Falk wrote.

The second is the call that never came after Williams was traded to the then-New Jersey Nets in the summer of 2010.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years,” Williams told Falk. “Just kind of stubbornness and nerves and all that played a part in why I never reached out.”

Utah’s #8 Deron Williams and Head coach Jerry Sloan walk off the court after the Utah Jazz lost to the Houston Rockets in game 2 at the Toyota Center in Houston Texas falling down 2-0 in the series.Photo by Scott G. Winterton / Deseret Morning News April 23, 2007

The fallout between the Hall of Fame coach and the three-time All-Star can’t be traced to one specific event but Williams’ eventual rise to stardom and Sloan’s overall happiness with the team had clearly begun to erode any hope of success between the two.

Following a loss to the Chicago Bulls in February 2011, Coach Sloan resigned and the Jazz eventually traded Williams as he was about to become a free agent in an attempt to spark a rebuild.

Williams admits that there was a “strong possibility” that he would have left anyway, even if he wasn’t traded.

Years later, following stints with the New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Williams was contacted by Utah Jazz president Steve Starks on a potential meeting between him and Coach Sloan to try and mend whatever relationship was left.

The opportunity was surely hastened after Sloan’s overall health begun to deteriorate after he was diagnosed in 2016 with Parkinson’s disease and a form of dementia called Lewy body dementia.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, center, watches Jazz hopefuls during a practice before the upcoming Rocky Mountain Review Monday, July 12, 2004. photo by Jeremy Harmon

“The thought of Coach Sloan passing away at some point before this meeting took place, to me, was terrible,” Starks said in the article. “As Deron’s career started to wind down and Coach’s health declined, enough time had passed—and now it was time to come together. I really believe if the meeting didn’t take place, both of them would regret it.”

All of Starks’ planning came to fruition as Williams was invited to Jerry and Tammy Sloan’s office at the coach’s home on June 19 of this year to try and rebuild the relationship that was torn seven years ago.

“He doesn’t forget a lot of things, instances where I pissed him off, things I did to upset him,” Williams was quoted saying. “If you know him, he’s never been one to shy away from telling you the truth and how he feels.”

The two ended the meeting with a handshake and a new understanding of each other’s perspectives and regrets but most importantly, a sense of closure, not only for Williams and Sloan or the Utah Jazz organization but also for the Utah Jazz fans who witnessed the events that took place during the 2010-2011 season.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Sports

Utah Jazz Collin Sexton...

Ben Anderson

Jazz 3-18 Since Trade Deadline After Loss To Spurs

At 3-18 since the trade deadline, the Jazz now sit behind the 4-19 Portland Trail Blazers as the league’s worst team since February 8.

1 hour ago

Utah Utes players circle up before the women’s college basketball game against Weber State Univer...

Aimee Cobabe and Emma Keddington

FBI now involved in Utah Women’s Basketball racism investigation

Police in Idaho are working with the FBI to investigate an incident where racial slurs were yelled at the Utah Women's basketball team.

1 day ago

Utah Utes guard Ines Vieira (2) shoots the ball with Colorado Buffaloes guard Frida Formann (3) jum...

MICHELLE BODKIN

Utah women’s basketball team forced to move hotels after racial hate crimes during NCAA Tournament

The NCAA Tournament was supposed to be a fun experience for the University of Utah women's basketball team.

2 days ago

Attendees climb at the grand opening of an outdoor climbing wall outside of Millcreek City Hall on ...

Collin Leonard, KSL.com

Olympian and hopefuls break in Utah’s biggest outdoor climbing wall at Millcreek City Hall

The Millcreek City Hall opened a brand new climbing wall on Saturday. It's the tallest outdoor wall in Utah.

4 days ago

All smiles at the NCAA Tournament. on March 20, 2024....

MItch Harper

LISTEN: The vibe in Omaha ahead of BYU’s Dance debut

On Wednesday, BYU basketball completed its one open practice of the NCAA Tournament at the CHI Health Center.

8 days ago

BYU regularly has honored the "no Sunday" play rule in each tournament it's played in, but it's bei...

Mitch Harper

NCAA committee dropped BYU down to no. 6 seed because of ‘no Sunday’ rule

BYU basketball was the highest-rated 5-seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, yet they ended up with a 6-seed because the "no Sunday" rule.

10 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Former Jazz Guard Deron Williams and Coach Sloan get closure